Behave yourselves, Leung tells tourism workers

Tourism-industry workers should exercise "self-discipline" in upholding the good name of Hong Kong as any new regulatory legislation will take time to come into effect, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said yesterday.

He was speaking in the wake of the death of mainland tourist Miao Chunqi, who was allegedly beaten by a few men in Hung Hom on Monday while trying to mediate in a row at a jeweller's.

During a Legislative Council question-and-answer session yesterday, Leung highlighted the need to keep Hong Kong's reputation in hospitality.

"We attach great importance to this incident. We must salvage our image as a hospitable city," he said in the light of criticism in state-run media of the city's tourism outlook.

Leung also referred to the government's pledge to set up a travel industry authority to oversee the work of regulation and licensing - but said the legal preparations were "complicated".

"We are stepping up drafting work … It will take more time than was originally estimated."

Before the body was formed, "there should be self-discipline" in the sector, he added.